In LMICs, expanding agent networks and merchant payment systems is critical for accelerating access to digital financial services (DFS).Mobile money and agent banking have transformed financial inclusion for women, youth, low-income households, small businesses, and rural populations. As LMICs move toward cash-lite economies, policymakers and the private sector are prioritizing digital payments across retail, utilities, health, and education.
Despite this progress, major research gaps remain on network organization,
vendor incentives, and strategies for effective agent expansion. The Retail Finance Distribution (ReFinD) initiative addresses these gaps by supporting research to strengthen DFS distribution systems and inform scalable, evidence-based innovations.
To advance this agenda, ICED proposes an Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) on agent networks and merchant payments in LMICs, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. It will guide policymakers, practitioners, and development partners in designing effective interventions while building capacity at ISSER and among ReFinD grantees through direct involvement in study searches, screening, coding, and data extraction.
The Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) is the foundation for Evidence-Based Decision-Making Products (EBDMPs). The EGM will:
Agent networks and mobile money are transforming financial inclusion for underserved communities. As LMICs shift toward cash-lite economies, digital payments across retail, health, education, and utilities are becoming a priority for policymakers and businesses.
In LMICs, expanding agent networks and merchant paymentsystems is critical for
accelerating access to digital financial services (DFS).Mobile money and agent
banking have transformed financial inclusion for women,youth, low-income
households, small businesses, and rural populations. AsLMICs move toward
cash-lite economies, policymakers and the private sector areprioritizing digital
payments across retail, utilities, health, and education.
Despite this progress, major research gaps remain on networkorganization,
vendor incentives, and strategies for effective agentexpansion. The Retail Finance
Distribution (ReFinD) initiative addresses these gaps bysupporting research
to strengthen DFS distribution systems and inform scalable,evidence-based
innovations.
To advance this agenda, ICED proposes an Evidence and GapMap (EGM) on
agent networks and merchant payments in LMICs, focusing onSub-Saharan Africa
and Asia. It will guide policymakers, practitioners, anddevelopment partners
in designing effective interventions while building capacityat ISSER and among
ReFinD grantees through direct involvement in studysearches, screening, coding,
and data extraction.
In LMICs, expanding agent networks and merchant paymentsystems is critical for
accelerating access to digital financial services (DFS).Mobile money and agent
banking have transformed financial inclusion for women,youth, low-income
households, small businesses, and rural populations. AsLMICs move toward
cash-lite economies, policymakers and the private sector areprioritizing digital
payments across retail, utilities, health, and education.
Despite this progress, major research gaps remain on networkorganization,
vendor incentives, and strategies for effective agentexpansion. The Retail Finance
Distribution (ReFinD) initiative addresses these gaps bysupporting research
to strengthen DFS distribution systems and inform scalable,evidence-based
innovations.
To advance this agenda, ICED proposes an Evidence and GapMap (EGM) on
agent networks and merchant payments in LMICs, focusing onSub-Saharan Africa
and Asia. It will guide policymakers, practitioners, anddevelopment partners
in designing effective interventions while building capacityat ISSER and among
ReFinD grantees through direct involvement in studysearches, screening, coding,
and data extraction.
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